Mixer for liquid fuels

Abstract

A liquid fuel mixer is disclosed, which is used to store liquid fuels for a fuel cell. The liquid fuel mixer includes a casing, one or more radiators and a gas permeable but liquid impermeable film. The casing forms a first internal compartment and a second internal compartment, and the first internal compartment is adjacent to the second internal compartment. The casing next to and separating the first internal compartment from the second internal compartment includes at least one vent and at least one drain. The second internal compartment contains the liquid fuels. The radiators are disposed in the first internal compartment. The gas permeable but liquid impermeable film is disposed on the vent. To avoid water condensing on the walls, the bottom of the first internal compartment includes a slopping channel and/or a flow-guilding channel, and the drain is disposed on the end of the lower portion of the slopping channel or the flow-guilding channel.

1 . A liquid fuel mixer for storing liquid fuels of a fuel cell, the liquid fuel mixer comprising:
 a casing to form a first internal compartment and a second internal compartment, wherein the first internal compartment is adjacent to the second internal compartment, the casing next to and separating the first internal compartment from the second internal compartment comprises at least one vent and at least one drain, and the second internal compartment contains the liquid fuels;   one or more radiators disposed in the first internal compartment; and   a gas permeable but liquid impermeable film disposed on the vent.   
   
   
       2 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve disposed on the drain. 
   
   
       3 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure valve disposed on the vent. 
   
   
       4 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal compartment is adjacent to and above the second internal compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal compartment comprises an L-shaped space. 
   
   
       6 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the radiator comprises a radiating fin. 
   
   
       7 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises an air inlet, the air inlet is in fluid communication with the first internal compartment, and the air inlet is pivotally connected to an outlet of the fuel cell for exhausting gaseous products. 
   
   
       8 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the first internal compartment comprises a slopping channel and/or a flow-guilding channel. 
   
   
       9 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 8 , wherein the drain is disposed on an end of the lower portion of the slopping channel and/or the flow-guilding channel. 
   
   
       10 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of a thermally conductive material. 
   
   
       11 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 10 , wherein the thermally conductive material is metal treated by an acid-proof process. 
   
   
       12 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of a plastic material. 
   
   
       13 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 12 , wherein the plastic material is a material treated by an acid-proof process. 
   
   
       14 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuels comprise a methanol solution. 
   
   
       15 . The liquid fuel mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is a direct methanol fuel cell.